Has anyone applied for a new job whilst on sick leave?

[SnowmenHaveFunnyNoses]

Hi all. Regular poster but have name changed for this. I’m currently off work with stress. About 6 months ago I changed from an office role and went back to nursing after more than 6 years away. Well, I loathe it 😢 I feel as though I’ve given it my best shot but I just want my old working life back and have been applying for jobs. I’ve got an interview next week for something similar to what I was doing previously (yay) If I were successful, I’d it OK to say that it’s only nursing that’s stressing me out and that my sick record was near enough unblemished for office work?

Hoping someone else knows or maybe there’s someone with HR experience. Thanks.

How long have you been off sick?

So far only 3 days, so not long.

I’m just debating whether it’s better to resign now and then there’s only three days sick on my record. If a new employer asked I could just say I was taking a career break for a couple of months. Financially, I don’t actually need to work luckily.

If they ask about sickness in a reference surely they'd only give the number of periods of sickness rather than the individual amount of days?

@girlmom21 I don’t know tbh. I’ve worked in the NHS all my working life (15 years) and this potential new job is local authority so I don’t know what their policy is. I’ve made such a mistake, I feel so stupid. I’ve got to give a week’s notice as I’m just inside probation, wish this mess could be sorted 🤦‍♀️

Don't worry OP, this can be sorted 😀 if you don't need the money I'd resign now.

@Russell19 Thank you 🙏 It really is just this job. I thought I was going to love it just as much as I used to but the spark isn’t there anymore. I would hope that if there were questions about sick then OH would at least give me a chance to explain myself.

My friend applied and was interviewed for a job while she was off sick with stress - and she got the job

That’s interesting @Abracadabra12345 Do you know whatever the occupational health department became involved or were they not interested?

[quote SnowmenHaveFunnyNoses]@girlmom21 I don’t know tbh. I’ve worked in the NHS all my working life (15 years) and this potential new job is local authority so I don’t know what their policy is. I’ve made such a mistake, I feel so stupid. I’ve got to give a week’s notice as I’m just inside probation, wish this mess could be sorted 🤦‍♀️[/quote]
If it is a local authority, they won't ask at interview - it would blow holes in dozens of their policies! They will ask for sickness information if an offer is made, and that might flag for occupational health. For 3 days, they won't care much (unless there is a lot more sickness for other things). But usually OH are very reasonable if you tell the truth - just like you have here. Some people aren't suited to work in areas that others are. That's ok. It's lying that gets you caught out. Just explain why you are stressed, why the current role doesn't suit you, and why this job won't trigger the same anxieties.